Beach Spirit Award Winners - The Spit

This award recognises coastal communities that are facing or have faced difficult times, but which show outstanding commitment to solving problems by turning them into opportunities.
As one of the last remaining open spaces on the Gold Coast, The Spit has been the subject of much development interest, prompting the local community to form the Save The Spit Alliance. The alliance is comprised of community, environment, fishing, tourism and business groups. Members meet fortnightly to discuss ways to maintain The Spit as a public space and to protect the waters of the Broadwater.

Alliance volunteers liaise with stakeholders, including the State government, park users and schools, to increase awareness of this special area. The Alliance has organised a day of celebration at
The Spit, held stalls at local events and set up an informative website. To date more than 20,000 signatures (30,000 + and growing) have been collected in support of the group's aim. In addition, the Alliance intends to raise funds for further facilities and revegetation at the beach.

Community members at The Spit have come together with a common goal in a great example of beach spirit in action.

Community Action Award - Federation Walk Coastal Reserve

This award recognises outstanding community organisation and pride - expressed through civic, cultural and environmental activities.

Federation Walk is a peaceful pathway through The Spit, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists. The Friends of Federation Walk have been caring for this site to protect it for future generations. Members have developed a draft management plan and are in discussions with Gold Coast City Council to have the strategy adopted. Under the plan, new entrances and signage will be added to encourage passive recreation and learning. Following fires in
recent years, the Friends are planting a screen of trees at the worst of the burnt sites.
Volunteers meet weekly to irrigate new plantings with a system that uses recycled effluent water. They also mulch plants and collect litter. The group recently received a Community Water Grant to upgrade and extend the watering system.

Monthly planting days and events such as National Tree Day and Clean Up Australia Day are well attended. Youth are involved
through the Council?s BeachCare and Griffith University?s CoastEd programs.

In recent months, several plantings by schools have taken place, complementing efforts by Work for the Dole, Green Corps and other community groups. As a result, almost 5,000 trees have
been planted in the past year. The local Councillor has been particularly supportive of these endeavours.

The outstanding teamwork at Federation Walk is an inspiring example of local action for community and environmental benefit.

editors note - this is very satisfying to be recognised in this way and is recognition of how close our community has become largely due to the threats to our public open space. Many different people get involved with Save Our Spit and we welcome any new members.